From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [24 June 1878]

Dearest H.

We have settled to go to L.H.P. on the 5^th, Abinger on 10^th, & Barlaston on 15—& I believe we need not take a day in London tho' perhaps it w^d be wisest to do so. It is almost incredible that F. should agree, & I am afraid not coming home after the 10—days absence will be very serious—

I have been out lamenting over the garden—

Yesterday it was so pretty with Escholzias & linums blazing in the sun, & the pinks & Heartsease; but about 5. o'clock we had the most tropical thunder hail & rain storm I ever saw. I thought the stones w^d have broken the verandah roof— F. was out but after sheltering several times came back in $\frac{1}{4}$ of an hour to find the whole straight walk under water & a river over shoe tops in front of the house it was actually overflowing the verandah— The hail quite hurt his feet as he came home & if he had had Polly he w^d have had to try to protect her. We had distant thunder all P.M. w. kept Bernard ""bang shooting"" pretty constantly; but when it came to such a tremendous noise he did not take m. heed— It is all mud & leaves— But the wind is N.E. & the glass rising so the fine weather seems likely not to be broken up— There is still a pool of $\frac{1}{2}$ round the orchard of brown mud— You must have had lovely weather in spite of all at Harlington & I hope it was a nice out of door place— Leo. & Ho. have had a good deal to tell us of their doings & seem to have had a good deal to tell us of their doings & seem to have had a good time— We sat out till 10^.^30 on Sat. They went to the play; but found it hopeless & came away after the 1^st act. I am surprized that Leo. could not understand a word—

Horace is off to Whittinghame & Leo's photo. tour is put off owing to some slipperyness of Cap. Abney; but if he fails again, he will go alone, in about a week—

I don't think Sara's line about servants was so hard & fast— She said with an engaged servant she sh^d allow visits; or with relations; but she did not like young men turning in to a house of call—

Her manner is so kind & considerate that her two present maids are v. fond of her; but then the food question only applies to the Cook— Poor Louisa opened out to me a little yesterday about William, & I am sure she will find it a relief to do so— She seems afraid that Carry will find it too dull— Her letter from L.H.P that lovely day was lamenting the loss of the noise of the Streets—while Arthur who had never seen L.H.P. before was quite charmed with the beauty of it. Goodbye my dear— F. will want Frank's letter again—

yours | E. D—

I will look tomorrow if there is any thing to gather & there may be some roses & linum; but it looks wretched now, & will send them by Miss Thorley's conveyance—

Bernard says ""Baby"" v. prettily & Oh'on boo boo to the flowers when he chooses—but not often.